Apply for the Better Factory Project for New Business Models and Digital Transformation in Manufacturing

 

 

ICT Cluster Bulgaria invites companies to explore opportunities through the Better Factory project, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union. The initiative is aimed at manufacturing SMEs, technology companies, and experts in industrial design. They will gain access to a one-year joint programme to test products and processes with a completely renewed design. Manufacturing SMEs will have the opportunity to redesign their current product portfolio together with business and industrial design mentors and technology experts to implement product innovations that meet current market requirements.

Priority will be given to testing developments in the following sectors: plastics and rubber, furniture and wood, food and agriculture, construction, metal and machinery, textiles, and leather.

The Better Factory project will enable manufacturing companies to enter new markets with personalized products, product lines or portfolios, and designers with industrial experience to create new business models for themselves and reach new prospective customers. Technology providers will be able to reach new potential customers and test new solutions with low financial risk. At the end of the programme, the eight most successful projects will receive funding of up to EUR 200,000 and premium services for 12 months.

Approved companies will be able to register in the Robotics and Automation Marketplace (RAMP) and will go to the stage of selecting suitable partners for joint projects. The Better Factory experts will assist the accepted participants in the formation of the teams. 

The selection of the participating companies begins with the submission of an Application for Interest. Interested companies can find more information and a link to apply here

The application deadline is 18 March 2021.

For assistance in the application process, please contact the ICT Cluster team: Anna Naydenova, anna_naydenova@ictcluster.bg.